Garmin Express v7.26.0 has been released

[Peobody]

Garmin Express v7.26.0 has been released.

Release notes as posted on the Garmin forum:
https://forums.garmin.com/apps-software ... ease-notes

• Added the ability to install maps to the computer from the Manage Maps page.

• Fixed an issue with non-universal/worldwide map devices displaying the Manage Maps option on the dashboard.

• Fixed an issue on the device dashboard indicating updates are available after successfully completing the updates.

• Other minor bug fixes and improvements.

[lkraus]

I did panic a bit when I opened the Map Options and did not see Install to Computer, but then I read your post more carefully and found Manage Maps.
I was excited to see a box for Install Path again, but sadly, it is ignored and the map ends up in C:\ProgramData\Garmin\Maps\ just as it has for the last few years.

2025-08-15 22_24_41-Garmin Express.jpg (47.65 KiB) Viewed 1156 times

It is possible to move it to D:, but making up the new shortcut in a hidden folder is an extra step that should not be necessary.

[Peobody]

The move of the install map to computer function to "Manage Maps" is logical but I suspect it will trip a lot of people up. Thanks @lkraus for explaining it and for the screenshot.

It is possible to move it to D:, but making up the new shortcut in a hidden folder is an extra step that should not be necessary.

More info about this please. I am unclear about what it means.

[lkraus]

Sometimes it is better to keep maps on a different drive than the main system drive (C:\).

On my travel laptop/tablet, the integrated system drive only has about 45GB free after Windows is installed, but it also has a 500GB mechanical drive in the keyboard. Installing 5GB+ of maps on C: reduces my ability to install other programs, but D: is mostly empty.

My desktop PC came with a 256GB SSD for C:, and a 2TB mechanical D: drive for data. Again, I prefer to keep maps and other data on D: to leave more room on C: for applications. I also make daily image backups of C: as protection against viruses, which is quicker and takes less storage with less data on that drive.

The Garmin web site used to provide instructions to relocate the maps, but though my bookmarked link no longer works, I did keep my own instructions. Basically, you move the folder containing the map to a new location, create a shortcut to that location, and paste the shortcut back into the original map location. Basecamp will follow the shortcut to find the map.

• In File Explorer, click the View tab, check the Hidden Items box.

• Open C:\ProgramData\Garmin\Maps

• Select the City Navigator xxxxxx.gmap folder

• Right-click and Cut.

• Browse to the desired alternate location. (D:\Garmin\Maps)

• Right-click a blank area in the folder

• Click Paste

• Right-click the map folder, select Create Shortcut

• Right-click the new shortcut, select Cut

• Browse back to C:\ProgramData\Garmin\Maps (Back button on my mouse)

• Paste the Shortcut

At one time you could choose an alternate map location in Express and Express would do all this automatically. Then there was a period when you could specify another folder, but then it was ignored. Recent versions of Express did not even provide the option to change the location. So I was glad that 7.26 let you specify a new folder, but again disappointed that my wishes were ignored.

[jfheath]

I did panic a bit when I opened the Map Options and did not see Install to Computer, but then I read your post more carefully and found Manage Maps.
I was excited to see a box for Install Path again, but sadly, it is ignored and the map ends up in C:\ProgramData\Garmin\Maps\ just as it has for the last few years.

It is possible to move it to D:, but making up the new shortcut in a hidden folder is an extra step that should not be necessary.

I played around with this many years ago.

Yes you can change the path but Garmin didn't seem to have set up the paths in the program so that Basecamp could find the files if they were located elsewhere. They needed to have the APPEND system variable set appropriately. (Remember those ?) Append adds a location to the list of disk locations that programs will look for files if it cannot find them in the expected place.

I added the appropriate appends to the place where I had installed the maps, but part way through something drastic happened which I tried to fix, but failed.
I gave up, uninstalled Basecamp, uninstalled maps and started from scratch with the default values.

I reckon that part of the program is access ing the files with a discrete path name that by-passes the normal system calls.

I've never tried to use anything but the default values since.

[lkraus]

Well, as I said, at one time Express did put the map wherever you wanted it. It just put a shortcut in the default folder C:\ProgramData\Garmin\Maps\ and then Basecamp would follow the link. The manual method does the same thing and works well, but it is a bit of a nuisance until you've done it several times and memorized the steps.

The same method works with my seldom-used OSM maps for foreign countries I'll never visit. The default map folder on C: only contains shortcuts to my D: drive.

It is still quite annoying that Express lets you specify the desired destination but then completely ignores your choice.

[Oop North John]

It is still quite annoying that Express lets you specify the desired destination but then completely ignores your choice.

Would you expect Garmin software to do anything different?